Vote counting has started in Malawi’s important presidential election after polling stations shut at 14:00 GMT on September 16, 2025.
President Lazarus Chakwera is aiming for re-election, facing off against former President Peter Mutharika. Both leaders promise to boost the economy if elected.
Potential Runoff Election
No candidate needs more than 50% of votes to win outright. If none reaches that mark, a second round will occur. This setup ensures a strong mandate for the winner.
Voter Turnout and Delays
About 3.7 million people voted today. Some stations faced hold-ups from problems with biometric fingerprint devices. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) must release presidential results by September 24. Parliamentary results will follow by September 30.
Handling Technical Issues
The MEC reported minor “queueing challenges” at a few locations due to fingerprint reader glitches. Officials managed these smoothly, allowing voting to continue without major disruptions.
Voter Assistance Measures
People who couldn’t write used inked fingerprints on ballots. Others marked with pens. These steps ensured everyone could participate fairly.
Broader Candidate Field
While Chakwera and Mutharika lead the pack, 15 other candidates are in the race. This includes Joyce Banda, Malawi’s only female president, and another ex-leader. The contest adds diversity to the choice.
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